How to Grow Beets at Home

Home-Grown Beetroot Will Win Over Even Die-Hard Opponents of This Very Healthy Vegetable...

Growing your own beetroot is easier than you might think, and the reward is worth it. Fresh beetroot from your garden tastes completely different from store-bought ones – it's sweeter, more tender, and full of flavor. Even people who've never been fans of this vegetable often change their mind after tasting home-grown beetroot.

Why Grow Beetroot at Home?

Beetroot is one of the most nutritious vegetables you can grow. It's packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support your immune system, improve digestion, and help maintain healthy blood pressure. When you grow it yourself, you know exactly what's gone into it – no pesticides or unnecessary chemicals.

Another great advantage is how easy beetroot is to grow. It doesn't require special care, thrives in most soil types, and can handle cooler weather. You can grow it in garden beds, raised beds, or even large containers on your balcony.

How to Grow Beetroot Successfully

Choosing the Right Location and Soil

Beetroot prefers a sunny spot but will also grow in partial shade. The soil should be loose, well-drained, and enriched with organic matter. Before planting, work some compost or well-rotted manure into the soil. Beetroot doesn't like acidic soil – the ideal pH is between 6.5 and 7.5.

Sowing and Spacing

You can sow beetroot seeds directly outdoors from April through July. Sow the seeds about 2-3 cm deep, spacing them 10 cm apart in rows that are 30 cm apart. Beetroot seeds are actually clusters containing several seeds, so you'll likely need to thin the seedlings once they emerge. Leave the strongest plants and thin to the recommended spacing.

Watering and Care

Beetroot needs regular watering, especially during dry periods. The soil should stay consistently moist but not waterlogged. Irregular watering can cause the roots to crack or become woody. Mulching around the plants helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Feed your beetroot with a balanced organic fertilizer once or twice during the growing season. Avoid fertilizers high in nitrogen, as these promote leaf growth at the expense of root development.

When and How to Harvest

Beetroot is typically ready to harvest 8-12 weeks after sowing, depending on the variety. You can start harvesting when the roots reach about 5 cm in diameter, though many varieties can grow much larger. Don't wait too long – oversized beetroots can become tough and fibrous.

To harvest, gently loosen the soil around the beetroot and pull it out by the leaves. Cut off the leaves about 2 cm above the root to prevent the beetroot from "bleeding" and losing its vibrant color.

How to Use Home-Grown Beetroot

Fresh beetroot from your garden opens up endless culinary possibilities. You can roast it, boil it, pickle it, or even eat it raw in salads. Try making beetroot chips, beetroot hummus, or add it to smoothies for a nutritional boost. Don't throw away the leaves – young beetroot greens are delicious in salads or sautéed like spinach.

Storage Tips

Store beetroot in a cool, dark place – ideally in a cellar or refrigerator. In the right conditions, it will keep for several months. You can also freeze cooked beetroot or preserve it by pickling.

Growing your own beetroot is a rewarding experience that will enrich your kitchen with fresh, healthy vegetables. Give it a try – you might be surprised how much you enjoy both the growing process and the delicious results!

In gardens, two types of beet are grown for consumption - red beet (lat. Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris) and table beet (lat. Beta vulgaris var. conditiva). Both types of beet belong to the amaranth family (lat. Amaranthaceae) of plants. Beets are primarily grown for their bulbs, which form underground. The above-ground part - the leaves - doesn't need to be thrown away either, as they can be prepared like spinach. Red beet originates from the Mediterranean. Today, it is popularly grown in Europe, Asia, and North America. The history of red beet is very long, with the first records of its use dating back approximately 3000 years. Red beet was also extensively cultivated in ancient Rome, where it served as a food source and also as a remedy for many ailments. Beet has not lost its beneficial effects to this day. Grow your own homegrown red beet in your garden too!

In the following article, you will learn about the most commonly grown varieties of red and table beet, and discover how to grow beets. Not only women will be interested in the so-called "beauty mineral" contained in red beet. There will also be mention of other beneficial effects of beet on the body and several proven tips for preparing red beet.

What beet varieties will we encounter?

The most commonly grown beets have red-colored bulbs, except for the table beet variety Burpee's Golden, which has yellow (golden) colored bulbs. Burpee's Golden is a mid-early variety of table beet that can be grown without problems throughout the entire Czech Republic. The highest yields are achieved in areas with consistent rainfall. Harvesting of the round yellow bulbs is possible approximately 4 months after sowing.

Ordinary at first glance, but very interesting when cut open, is table beet variety Chioggia. The bulbs of this beet are round, the skin is red, which is typical for beet. The interesting feature is the internal flesh, because when the bulb is cut open, distinctive striping reminiscent of tree rings is visible. The red and white stripes will captivate every consumer. This is a very early variety of table beet.

A very productive, semi-late variety of table beet is "Bona". The bulbs are round and red in color. Their size depends on growing conditions and the consistency of water supply during the bulb development period. It can be grown in all locations across our country. Its advantage is disease resistance.

An early variety of red table beet is "Kahira". This beet produces fewer leaves, which however has no effect on the bulbs, which are transversely narrowly elliptical. The top skin is red in color and slightly corky. The flesh is dark purple in color with no visible stripes.

Red beet can also be cylindrical in shape

With its bulb shape, the "Alexis" salad beet variety differs from previous beet types by being cylindrical. The bulb color is typical - red. Under favorable conditions, the bulbs can grow to a size of 21 - 26 cm. Alexis is a late variety of salad beet.

You can also grow other beet varieties, such as Egypt, Červená koule, Detroit, Monorubra, Renova...

Growing Beets in Your Garden

Growing beets is not complicated at all. They can be sown directly into the garden bed from mid-April until approximately June, depending on the specific variety. Late sowing will result in smaller bulbs that are tastier and more suitable for direct consumption. Red beets thrive in almost all soils, growing poorly only in overly acidic and gravelly soils. Beets are second-crop plants and don't like freshly manured soil. They prefer locations where, for example, potatoes were grown in the previous season. Beet seeds are sown in rows spaced approximately 30 - 40 cm apart. Young plants must be thinned out to a distance of approximately 8 - 10 cm for proper emergence. Neglecting to thin them would leave the bulbs without enough space for development, resulting in small and deformed bulbs.

During the season, beets require care, including weeding the rows and regular hoeing. Beets need sufficient water especially during germination and bulb formation periods. Watering depends on the weather. During drought, regular irrigation is necessary, while in rainy periods, beets can manage with natural water supply from rainfall.

Don't fertilize beets with organic fertilizers; prefer NPK fertilizer with micronutrients

Beets can be supported in growth through supplemental feeding. Organic fertilizers are unsuitable for this purpose as they would lead to nitrate accumulation in the beet bulb. It's better to supplement sufficient nutrients during the growing season through continuous feeding with complex NPK fertilizer with micronutrients - preferably with boron. Properly nourished beet plants are less susceptible to diseases and pests. Despite all efforts, beets may be attacked by, for example, beet leaf miner or black bean aphid. Among diseases, beets most commonly suffer from leaf spot.

"The Beauty Mineral" in Beets

Red beets are a rich source of silicon, which is referred to as the "beauty mineral". Silicon is extremely important for the human body in the formation and strength of connective tissues and bones, supporting the elasticity and overall health of blood vessels. The beneficial effects of silicon on the skin are proven, giving it elasticity and a youthful appearance. Consuming red beets strengthens hair and nails. Red beets are therefore rightfully considered an anti-aging agent, as silicon supports the overall regeneration of the body.

Not Just Silicon is Contained in Beetroot Bulbs

Folic acid is another of the very valuable substances contained in beetroot. Folic acid is essential for women's fertility, a strong heart and actually the entire cardiovascular system. In beetroot, besides silicon and folic acid, there is also potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, iodine and copper. Beetroot bulbs are a source of vitamin C, E and beta-carotene. The fibre content is also beneficial for the human organism, which helps with digestive processes, supports the production of digestive juices and improves the function of the gallbladder and detoxifies the liver. The beneficial effects of beetroot have also been proven during convalescence after Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis. Women will appreciate beetroot for menstrual and menopausal problems. Many studies have shown that beetroot also works against anthocyanins, which cause cancerous growth. Increased consumption of beetroot is recommended during treatment and subsequent convalescence in cancer diseases.

Beetroot is one of the best natural sources of silicon - the "mineral of beauty"

Ways to Prepare Beetroot

Beetroot can be consumed raw, when it can be added grated or cut into thin slices to vegetable salads. Beetroot bulbs can be pickled and subsequently used as a side dish. The drinking healing cure of beetroot juice is also well known. Beetroot can be combined with other types of vegetables and fruit, so even the biggest opponent of this "vegetable of eternal youth" will find their favourite way of preparation. Baked beetroot or beetroot salad are also excellent.